KARACHI, July 5: The country failed to achieve rice export target during the out-going fiscal year (2012-13) on exporting around 3.489 million metric tonnes or 6pc less as against 3.724 million metric tonnes exported in 2011-12.
After a period of four years, rice exports fetched less than $2 billion in foreign exchange at $1.837bn or 12pc short of previous year’s earning at $2.08bn.
Experts say that it should be taken seriously by the economic planners of the country as well as the Ministry of Agriculture.
For the first time in 2009-10, rice exports touched $2.04bn and became second highest foreign exchange earning commodity after textile exports.
This achievement was widely praised and government officials started giving importance to rice export trade.Consequently, in the subsequent year (2010-11) rice exports touched record level at $2.28bn and even during 2011-12 rice exports remained at $2.08bn.
According to official figures, rice exports during 2012-13 stood short by 235,832 metric tonnes which fetched $1.837bn or $243m less in foreign exchange.
According to official figures, there had been a steep fall of around 35pc in basmati rice exports at 630,035 metric tonnes during out-going fiscal year (2012-13) as compared to 968,941 metric tonnes exported in 2011-12.
As a result of this, the country has to suffer huge loss of around $217m in foreign exchange earning which stood 26pc less at $627m over the previous year (2011-2012) when the country earned $844m.
Even on better average price at $995 per ton during 2012-13 as against $871 per ton earned in 2011-12, the steep fall in quantity made the country to earn less foreign exchange on Basmati rice exports, stated Abdul Rahim Janoo, founding chairman of Pakistan Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP).
The non-basmati rice, which mostly constitutes of Irri-6, recorded a modest rise in exports at 2.858 million metric tonnes or 4pc over previous year when exports stood at 2.755 million metric tonnes.
However, due to less per ton average price fetched by exporters during 2012-13, it also resulted in lesser foreign exchange earning at $1.210bn or 2pc short of $1.237bn fetched in 2011-12.
The average price for non-basmati rice during 2012-13 stood at $424 as compared to $449 earned in 2011-12. Mr Janoo said that against Basmati rice, demand for 386 rice variety is gaining momentum, particularly in the Gulf States. Therefore, he urged the government to approve this variety which was banned in the past. This rice variety is good in cooking and carries Basmati rice qualities.
The second reason for lower rice exports, he said was poor law and order situation in Karachi where 80pc of rice exporters are located.
The energy crisis, Abdul Rahim Janoo said, was a major factor which is crippling trade activities, including rice exports.
